# LinkPing > LinkPing is a directory submission workspace for SaaS and AI startups: it keeps a verified library of directory submission sites and launch platforms, and lets your own AI agent (Claude Code, Codex or any MCP client) submit your product to them and track every listing. As of 2026-10-20, LinkPing's library lists 410 directory submission sites, launch platforms and listing sites; 216 have been checked by our probe. Of the 223 sites with a known price, 165 (74.0%) accept a free listing. Of the 128 with a known link type, 111 (86.7%) give a dofollow link. 22 are paid-only and 6 have shut down. Median Domain Rating across the 410 sites with a measured DR is 56 (Domain Rating by Ahrefs). The full dataset is open under CC BY 4.0: https://getbacklinkai.com/data/directories.json. ## LinkPing - [LinkPing — directory submission tool for SaaS & AI startups](https://getbacklinkai.com/): Submit a SaaS or AI product to verified directories and launch platforms from one workspace, with your own AI agent doing the form-filling. - [LinkPing community — backlink exchange and forum](https://getbacklinkai.com/community): Public backlink-exchange listings from verified sites and a forum for founders doing directory submission and link building. - [LinkPing documentation](https://getbacklinkai.com/docs): How LinkPing works: connecting an agent, the site library, submissions, outreach. - [LinkPing site map](https://getbacklinkai.com/site-map): Every public LinkPing page on one page, grouped by topic: submission, directory lists, tools, answers, guides and data. ## Directories - [Directory submission sites: 410 checked (2026)](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories.md): 410 directory submission sites with price, dofollow, DR, account and badge rules — 74% of those with known pricing are free. Snapshot 2026-10-20. - [Free directory submission sites: 164 sites checked (2026)](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/free.md): Directories that list your product without payment, each re-checked by LinkPing. 164 sites, snapshot 2026-10-20. - [Dofollow directory list: 111 sites checked (2026)](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/dofollow.md): Directories whose listing links carry no rel="nofollow", from LinkPing checks. 111 sites, snapshot 2026-10-20. - [Directory submission sites with instant approval: 50 sites checked (2026)](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/instant-approval.md): Free directories that publish without an account or a review queue. 50 sites, snapshot 2026-10-20. - [SaaS directories: 99 sites checked (2026)](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/saas.md): SaaS review sites, startup directories and launch platforms worth listing a SaaS on. 99 sites, snapshot 2026-10-20. - [AI tool directories to submit to: 180 sites checked (2026)](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/ai.md): AI tool directories that accept submissions, with price, DR and badge rules. 180 sites, snapshot 2026-10-20. - [Startup directories: 17 sites checked (2026)](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/startup.md): Startup directories and listing sites for early-stage products. 17 sites, snapshot 2026-10-20. - [High DR directory submission sites: 228 sites checked (2026)](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/high-dr.md): Directories with Domain Rating 50 or higher. 228 sites, snapshot 2026-10-20. - [Active Search Results Search Engine: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/activesearchresults.com.md): Active Search Results Search Engine submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Not yet verified. DR 74. Account? No. Badge? No. Verified 2026-09-30. - [AI Agent Marketplace & Directory: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/aiagentsdirectory.com.md): AI Agent Marketplace & Directory submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Yes. DR 75. Account? Yes. Badge? Yes. Verified 2026-09-30. - [AIStage: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/aistage.net.md): AIStage submission guide: free? No. Dofollow? Yes. DR 71. Account? No. Badge? No. Verified 2026-09-30. - [Ubersuggest: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/aitools.neilpatel.com.md): Ubersuggest submission guide: free? Not yet verified. Dofollow? Not yet verified. DR 91. Account? Not yet verified. Badge? Not yet verified. Verified 2026-09-30. - [AlternativeTo: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/alternativeto.net.md): AlternativeTo submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? No. DR 81. Account? Yes. Badge? No. Verified 2026-09-30. - [AppSumo: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/appsumo.com.md): AppSumo submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Not yet verified. DR 83. Account? Yes. Badge? No. Verified 2026-09-30. - [Aura++: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/auraplusplus.com.md): Aura++ submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Yes. DR 73. Account? Yes. Badge? Yes. Verified 2026-09-30. - [BetaList: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/betalist.com.md): BetaList submission guide: free? No. Dofollow? Not yet verified. DR 77. Account? Yes. Badge? No. Verified 2026-09-30. - [Blogarama: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/blogarama.com.md): Blogarama submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Not yet verified. DR 73. Account? Yes. Badge? Not yet verified. Verified 2026-09-30. - [brandfetch.com: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/brandfetch.com.md): brandfetch.com submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Not yet verified. DR 73. Account? Yes. Badge? No. Verified 2026-09-30. - [clutch.co: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/clutch.co.md): clutch.co submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Not yet verified. DR 91. Account? Yes. Badge? No. Verified 2026-09-30. - [Curatorial Network & Digital Product (code.market): free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/code.market.md): Curatorial Network & Digital Product (code.market) submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Yes. DR 72. Account? Yes. Badge? Yes. Verified 2026-09-30. - [crozdesk.com: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/crozdesk.com.md): crozdesk.com submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Not yet verified. DR 74. Account? Yes. Badge? No. Verified 2026-09-30. - [Crunchbase: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/crunchbase.com.md): Crunchbase submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Not yet verified. DR 91. Account? Yes. Badge? No. Verified 2026-09-30. - [DeepLaunch.io: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/deeplaunch.io.md): DeepLaunch.io submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Yes. DR 72. Account? No. Badge? Yes. Verified 2026-09-30. - [diigo.com: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/diigo.com.md): diigo.com submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Not yet verified. DR 82. Account? Yes. Badge? No. Verified 2026-09-30. - [Dofollow.Tools: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/dofollow.tools.md): Dofollow.Tools submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Yes. DR 74. Account? No. Badge? Yes. Verified 2026-09-30. - [ExactSeek: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/exactseek.com.md): ExactSeek submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Not yet verified. DR 70. Account? No. Badge? No. Verified 2026-09-30. - [f6s.com: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/f6s.com.md): f6s.com submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Yes. DR 83. Account? Yes. Badge? No. Verified 2026-09-30. - [Financesonline.com: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/financesonline.com.md): Financesonline.com submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Not yet verified. DR 87. Account? Not yet verified. Badge? Not yet verified. Verified 2026-09-30. - [FoundrList: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/foundrlist.com.md): FoundrList submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Not yet verified. DR 73. Account? Not yet verified. Badge? Yes. Verified 2026-09-30. - [G2: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/g2.com.md): G2 submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Not yet verified. DR 91. Account? Yes. Badge? No. Verified 2026-09-30. - [getapp.com: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/getapp.com.md): getapp.com submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Not yet verified. DR 85. Account? Yes. Badge? No. Verified 2026-09-30. - [Good AI Tools: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/goodaitools.com.md): Good AI Tools submission guide: free? Not yet verified. Dofollow? Not yet verified. DR 75. Account? Yes. Badge? Not yet verified. Verified 2026-09-30. - [goodfirms.co: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/goodfirms.co.md): goodfirms.co submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Not yet verified. DR 87. Account? Yes. Badge? No. Verified 2026-09-30. - [Hatena (はてなブックマーク): free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/hatena.ne.jp.md): Hatena (はてなブックマーク) submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Not yet verified. DR 93. Account? Yes. Badge? No. Verified 2026-09-30. - [Instapaper: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/instapaper.com.md): Instapaper submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Not yet verified. DR 81. Account? Yes. Badge? No. Verified 2026-09-30. - [MossAI: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/mossai.org.md): MossAI submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? No. DR 76. Account? Yes. Badge? Yes. Verified 2026-09-30. - [Peerlist: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/peerlist.io.md): Peerlist submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Not yet verified. DR 77. Account? Yes. Badge? No. Verified 2026-09-30. - [peerpush.com: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/peerpush.com.md): peerpush.com submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Yes. DR 78. Account? Yes. Badge? No. Verified 2026-09-30. - [PitchWall: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/pitchwall.co.md): PitchWall submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Yes. DR 71. Account? Not yet verified. Badge? No. Verified 2026-09-30. - [Product Hunt: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/producthunt.com.md): Product Hunt submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? No. DR 91. Account? Yes. Badge? No. Verified 2026-09-30. - [Raindrop.io: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/raindrop.io.md): Raindrop.io submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Not yet verified. DR 77. Account? Yes. Badge? No. Verified 2026-09-30. - [SaaSFame: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/saasfame.com.md): SaaSFame submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Yes. DR 72. Account? Yes. Badge? Yes. Verified 2026-09-30. - [SaaSHub: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/saashub.com.md): SaaSHub submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Yes. DR 80. Account? Yes. Badge? No. Verified 2026-09-30. - [saasworthy.com: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/saasworthy.com.md): saasworthy.com submission guide: free? Not yet verified. Dofollow? Not yet verified. DR 75. Account? Yes. Badge? Not yet verified. Verified 2026-09-30. - [scamadviser.com: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/scamadviser.com.md): scamadviser.com submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Not yet verified. DR 81. Account? No. Badge? No. Verified 2026-09-30. - [scoop.it: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/scoop.it.md): scoop.it submission guide: free? Not yet verified. Dofollow? Not yet verified. DR 82. Account? Yes. Badge? No. Verified 2026-09-30. - [Discover Startups: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/sellwithboost.com.md): Discover Startups submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Not yet verified. DR 74. Account? Yes. Badge? Yes. Verified 2026-09-30. - [showmebest.ai: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/showmebest.ai.md): showmebest.ai submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Yes. DR 76. Account? No. Badge? No. Verified 2026-09-30. - [ShowMySites: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/showmysites.com.md): ShowMySites submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Yes. DR 71. Account? Yes. Badge? Yes. Verified 2026-09-30. - [SideProjectors: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/sideprojectors.com.md): SideProjectors submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Yes. DR 71. Account? Yes. Badge? No. Verified 2026-09-30. - [SimilarLabs: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/similarlabs.com.md): SimilarLabs submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Yes. DR 70. Account? Not yet verified. Badge? No. Verified 2026-09-30. - [Find Real Business Reviews & Ratings: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/sitejabber.com.md): Find Real Business Reviews & Ratings submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Not yet verified. DR 81. Account? Yes. Badge? No. Verified 2026-09-30. - [Smol Launch: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/smollaunch.com.md): Smol Launch submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Not yet verified. DR 76. Account? Yes. Badge? No. Verified 2026-09-30. - [softwareadvice.com: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/softwareadvice.com.md): softwareadvice.com submission guide: free? Not yet verified. Dofollow? Not yet verified. DR 87. Account? Yes. Badge? No. Verified 2026-09-30. - [softwareworld.co: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/softwareworld.co.md): softwareworld.co submission guide: free? Not yet verified. Dofollow? Not yet verified. DR 73. Account? Yes. Badge? Not yet verified. Verified 2026-09-30. - [start.me: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/start.me.md): start.me submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Not yet verified. DR 76. Account? Yes. Badge? No. Verified 2026-09-30. - [Startup Fame: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/startupfa.me.md): Startup Fame submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Yes. DR 84. Account? Yes. Badge? Yes. Verified 2026-09-30. - [startus.cc: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/startus.cc.md): startus.cc submission guide: free? Not yet verified. Dofollow? Not yet verified. DR 72. Account? Not yet verified. Badge? Not yet verified. Verified 2026-09-30. - [Submit AI Tools: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/submitaitools.org.md): Submit AI Tools submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Not yet verified. DR 76. Account? Not yet verified. Badge? Not yet verified. Verified 2026-09-30. - [There's An AI For That: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/theresanaiforthat.com.md): There's An AI For That submission guide: free? No. Dofollow? Not yet verified. DR 78. Account? Not yet verified. Badge? No. Verified 2026-09-30. - [ToolFame: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/toolfame.com.md): ToolFame submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Yes. DR 76. Account? Yes. Badge? Yes. Verified 2026-09-30. - [ToolPilot: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/toolpilot.ai.md): ToolPilot submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Not yet verified. DR 79. Account? Not yet verified. Badge? Yes. Verified 2026-09-30. - [trustpilot.com: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/trustpilot.com.md): trustpilot.com submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Not yet verified. DR 94. Account? Yes. Badge? No. Verified 2026-09-30. - [Turbo0: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/turbo0.com.md): Turbo0 submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Yes. DR 81. Account? Yes. Badge? Yes. Verified 2026-09-30. - [Viesearch: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/viesearch.com.md): Viesearch submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Not yet verified. DR 72. Account? No. Badge? No. Verified 2026-09-30. - [Website Launches: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/websitelaunches.com.md): Website Launches submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Not yet verified. DR 71. Account? No. Badge? No. Verified 2026-09-30. - [webwiki.com: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/webwiki.com.md): webwiki.com submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Not yet verified. DR 74. Account? Not yet verified. Badge? No. Verified 2026-09-30. - [Wellfound: free?, dofollow?, DR — submission guide](https://getbacklinkai.com/directories/wellfound.com.md): Wellfound submission guide: free? Yes. Dofollow? Not yet verified. DR 87. Account? Yes. Badge? No. Verified 2026-09-30. ## Launch platforms - [Product Hunt alternatives: 50 launch platforms ranked (2026)](https://getbacklinkai.com/launch-platforms.md): 50 Product Hunt alternatives ranked by Domain Rating, with free, dofollow, account and badge rules. Snapshot 2026-10-20. ## Directory submission - [Directory submission service and tool](https://getbacklinkai.com/directory-submission.md): How LinkPing does directory submission: shared checked library, agent plus browser extension, verified results. - [SaaS directory submission](https://getbacklinkai.com/directory-submission/saas.md): SaaS directory submission: relevant directories from LinkPing's checked library with preparation tips and pitfalls. - [AI tool directory submission](https://getbacklinkai.com/directory-submission/ai-tools.md): AI tool directory submission: relevant directories from LinkPing's checked library with preparation tips and pitfalls. - [Chrome extension directory submission](https://getbacklinkai.com/directory-submission/chrome-extension.md): Chrome extension directory submission: relevant directories from LinkPing's checked library with preparation tips and pitfalls. - [Bulk directory submission](https://getbacklinkai.com/directory-submission/bulk.md): Bulk directory submission: relevant directories from LinkPing's checked library with preparation tips and pitfalls. ## Compare - [LinkPing compared with other ways to get listed](https://getbacklinkai.com/compare.md): LinkPing compared with submission services, curated lists and link building agencies. - [LinkPing vs ListingBott](https://getbacklinkai.com/compare/listingbott.md): LinkPing vs ListingBott: done-for-you submission service compared with an agent-run workbench. - [LinkPing vs LaunchDirectories](https://getbacklinkai.com/compare/launchdirectories.md): LinkPing vs LaunchDirectories: curated launch directory list compared with an agent-run workbench. - [LinkPing vs LaunchRepo](https://getbacklinkai.com/compare/launchrepo.md): LinkPing vs LaunchRepo: AI-agent submission list compared with an agent-run workbench. - [LinkPing vs a link building agency](https://getbacklinkai.com/compare/link-building-agency.md): LinkPing compared with hiring a link building agency, by approach, control and cost model. ## Use cases - [SaaS link building and directory plan](https://getbacklinkai.com/for/saas.md): A first-90-days directory and backlink plan for SaaS, from LinkPing's checked library. - [SEO and backlinks for startups](https://getbacklinkai.com/for/startups.md): A first-90-days directory and backlink plan for startups, from LinkPing's checked library. ## Tools - [Free SEO and backlink tools](https://getbacklinkai.com/tools.md): Index of LinkPing's free tools for llms.txt, link checking, backlink ROI and finding directories. - [llms.txt Generator and Validator (Free Checker)](https://getbacklinkai.com/tools/llms-txt.md): Free llms.txt generator, checker and validator. Build a spec-compliant llms.txt for your site, or paste a file or URL and see every error and warning. - [Dofollow Nofollow Link Checker: See Every Outbound Link](https://getbacklinkai.com/tools/dofollow-checker.md): Free dofollow nofollow checker. Enter a page URL and list every outbound link with its rel attribute: dofollow, nofollow, ugc or sponsored. - [Free Broken Link Checker: Find Dead Links on a Page](https://getbacklinkai.com/tools/broken-link-checker.md): Free broken link checker. Enter a page URL and test up to 100 of its links for 404s, timeouts and redirects, with the status code of each. - [Backlink ROI Calculator: Time and Cost of Directory Submission](https://getbacklinkai.com/tools/backlink-roi.md): Calculator for the time and cost of manual directory submission versus an assisted workflow, using real counts from LinkPing's directory library. - [Directory Finder: Best Directories to Submit Your Product To](https://getbacklinkai.com/tools/directory-finder.md): Find the best directories for a SaaS, AI tool, Chrome extension, developer tool or local business. Filter free only, no login and dofollow. ## Answers - [LinkPing Answers: directory submission, backlinks and AI visibility](https://getbacklinkai.com/answers.md): 39 sourced answers on choosing directories, backlink risk, AI search visibility and directory data from LinkPing's checked library. - [Which directories should I submit my SaaS to in 2026?](https://getbacklinkai.com/answers/best-directories-to-submit-saas.md): Start with launch platforms, SaaS review sites and the AI tool directories that match your product, then add general directories only if they are free. As of 2026-10-20, LinkPing tracks 410 public directories and 165 of the 223 with known pricing are free. - [Which startup directories still give dofollow backlinks for free?](https://getbacklinkai.com/answers/free-dofollow-startup-directories.md): As of 2026-10-20, LinkPing has confirmed 67 live directories that are both free and dofollow; 111 of 128 directories with a known link type pass dofollow links. Dofollow status is checked on the listing page and can change without notice, so verify before you rely on it. - [What are the best Product Hunt alternatives for a small launch?](https://getbacklinkai.com/answers/product-hunt-alternatives.md): LinkPing tracks 51 live launch platforms as of 2026-10-20, and 32 of the 35 with known pricing offer a free launch. A small launch works best spread across several of them over a few weeks rather than one big day. - [Which AI tool directories accept free submissions without a badge?](https://getbacklinkai.com/answers/free-ai-directories-no-badge.md): As of 2026-10-20, LinkPing has confirmed 35 live AI tool directories that are free and do not require a badge, out of 180 AI directories tracked. Another 14 free ones have an unchecked badge rule and 20 require one. - [Which directories require a backlink badge, and is that worth it?](https://getbacklinkai.com/answers/directories-requiring-backlink-badge.md): As of 2026-10-20, 37 of 158 live directories with a known badge rule require a backlink badge or a link back to them. Whether it is worth it depends on the directory: a badge to a respected site can be a fair trade, a badge to an unknown one adds a link on your site for little return. - [Which directories have shut down or switched to paid in 2026?](https://getbacklinkai.com/answers/directories-shut-down-or-paid-2026.md): As of 2026-10-20, LinkPing's probes found 6 of 410 tracked directories offline and 22 requiring payment before a listing is possible. LinkPing records the current state of each site, not yet when it changed, so we cannot say which of these switched during 2026. - [How many directories should a new SaaS submit to?](https://getbacklinkai.com/answers/how-many-directories-to-submit.md): A first round of roughly 20 to 40 relevant directories is a sensible target, and that is guidance rather than a measured optimum. LinkPing's library, checked 2026-10-20, lists 50 directories that accept free submissions with no account, which is enough to fill a first round. - [What's the difference between local citations and niche directory submission?](https://getbacklinkai.com/answers/local-citations-vs-niche-directories.md): Local citations list your business name, address and phone number for local search, while niche directory submission lists a product by category for relevance and backlinks. LinkPing's library, checked 2026-10-20, covers mostly the second kind: 12 business listing sites against 398 other directories. - [Which directories get cited by ChatGPT and Perplexity most often?](https://getbacklinkai.com/answers/directories-cited-by-chatgpt-perplexity.md): LinkPing has not yet measured which directories ChatGPT and Perplexity cite, so we do not publish a ranking of them. As of 2026-10-20 the library tracks 410 directories; the best signal we can honestly give today is which of them have high authority, shown below as candidates rather than as confirmed citations. - [Do directory backlinks still help SEO in 2026?](https://getbacklinkai.com/answers/do-directory-backlinks-help-seo.md): Directory backlinks help modestly and indirectly: a handful of relevant, reputable listings can support discovery and brand mentions, but bulk submissions to low-quality directories add little. In LinkPing's library, 111 of 128 directories with a known link type are dofollow, and 228 of 410 sit at DR 50 or higher (snapshot 2026-10-20); relevance still matters more than the number. - [How much does DR go up after submitting to 50 directories?](https://getbacklinkai.com/answers/dr-increase-after-50-directories.md): There is no reliable number: DR depends on the quality of the sites linking to you, not on how many directories you submit to, and LinkPing has not yet measured DR before and after submissions. What the library does show, as of 2026-10-20, is that the median DR of the 410 directories with a DR value is 56, and the DR bands below show how wide the spread is. - [How long does it take for a directory backlink to be indexed by Google?](https://getbacklinkai.com/answers/index-directory-backlink-time.md): There is no fixed time: a directory backlink can be discovered within days or never, depending on whether the listing page itself gets crawled and indexed. LinkPing does not yet have indexing-time measurements, and as of 2026-10-20 it tracks 111 of 128 dofollow directories where such a link would be worth waiting for. - [Can directory submissions hurt my site (toxic / spam links)?](https://getbacklinkai.com/answers/can-directory-submissions-hurt-my-site.md): Submitting to real, relevant directories is unlikely to hurt your site, because Google says it generally ignores links it considers spammy rather than penalising for them. Risk comes from patterns Google's spam policies call link schemes: paying for links that pass ranking signals, large-scale exchanges, and keyword-stuffed anchor text on widgets or footers. - [Is backlink exchange against Google's guidelines?](https://getbacklinkai.com/answers/link-exchange-against-google-guidelines.md): Excessive link exchanging done to manipulate rankings is against Google's spam policies, but occasional, natural cross-links between genuinely related sites are not. Google's wording is about "excessive" exchanges and partner pages made only for cross-linking, so scale and intent decide. - [Are paid directory listings worth it? Which ones pay back?](https://getbacklinkai.com/answers/paid-directory-listings-worth-it.md): For most early-stage products, free listings come first and paid ones only pay back where a specific audience or a guaranteed placement justifies the fee. As of 2026-10-20, 22 of 410 directories in LinkPing's library are paid-only, and 165 of 223 with known pricing are free. - [What percentage of directory submissions actually get approved?](https://getbacklinkai.com/answers/directory-submission-approval-rate.md): LinkPing does not yet have enough tracked submissions to publish an approval rate, and quoting one without data would mislead. What the library shows, as of 2026-10-20, is how many directories need an account (130 of 410) or payment (22 of 410) before a listing can even be reviewed. - [Do nofollow directory links have any value for AI search?](https://getbacklinkai.com/answers/nofollow-directory-links-ai-search.md): Probably some, but LinkPing has not measured it: nofollow tells search engines how to treat a link, while an AI assistant reading a page can still see the mention of your product and its description. Of 127 live directories with a known link type, 16 (13%) use nofollow as of 2026-10-20. - [How do I submit my website to ChatGPT?](https://getbacklinkai.com/answers/submit-website-to-chatgpt.md): You cannot submit a website to ChatGPT through a form; you make it findable by letting OpenAI's search crawler read it and by being present on the pages it draws from. The practical steps are to allow the crawler, get indexed in major search indexes, and be listed on the review sites and directories LinkPing tracks (410 as of 2026-10-20). - [How do I get my product recommended by ChatGPT?](https://getbacklinkai.com/answers/get-product-recommended-by-chatgpt.md): Get recommended by being clearly described, consistently listed and independently mentioned on the sources ChatGPT reads when it searches. LinkPing has not yet measured which actions raise recommendation rates, so the steps below are best practice, not proven lift; as of 2026-10-20 we track 410 directories where a consistent listing can start. - [How do I write a directory description that AI engines quote?](https://getbacklinkai.com/answers/write-directory-description-ai-quotes.md): Write one self-contained sentence that says what the product is, who it is for and what it does, then a second with a verifiable detail such as pricing model or integration. Use it unchanged across directories: LinkPing's checks (216 of 410 directories verified as of 2026-10-20) show many forms with only a name, URL and short description, so the sentence you give is often all there is to quote. - [What should be in an llms.txt file for a SaaS?](https://getbacklinkai.com/answers/llms-txt-for-saas.md): An llms.txt file is a Markdown file at /llms.txt with your product name, a one-line summary and a short list of links to your most useful pages, each with a one-line description. It is a proposal rather than an adopted standard, and LinkPing has no measurement of its effect on citations, so keep it small and treat it as low-cost, not proven. - [How do I automate directory submissions with an AI agent (Claude Code / Cursor)?](https://getbacklinkai.com/answers/automate-directory-submissions-ai-agent.md): An AI agent can fill submission forms for you, but only the sites that need no account, no captcha and no payment are reliably automatable. As of 2026-10-20, 50 of 410 directories in LinkPing's library are free with no account, and 130 of 410 require a login. - [How do I avoid getting rejected by Product Hunt-style launch sites?](https://getbacklinkai.com/answers/avoid-rejection-launch-sites.md): Most rejections come from a thin product page, a mismatch with the platform's rules, or promotional wording, so submit a working product with a clear page and read the rules first. LinkPing's checks show 29 of 35 live launch platforms with a known account rule require an account (2026-10-20), so set up the profile before launch day. - [How do I index backlinks fast without Search Console?](https://getbacklinkai.com/answers/index-backlinks-fast-without-search-console.md): You cannot force Google to index a page you do not own, but you can make it easier to find by linking to the page from crawled sources and making sure it is not blocked. Search Console only works for properties you verify, so for a backlink on someone else's site the useful tools are discovery signals, not submission. - [How do I find link exchange partners in my niche safely?](https://getbacklinkai.com/answers/find-link-exchange-partners-safely.md): Look for sites that share your audience, have real traffic and would plausibly link to you anyway, and keep the number of exchanges small. Google's spam policies treat excessive link exchanges as link spam, so safety comes from relevance, volume and honest attribution rather than from any particular tool. - [LinkPing vs ListingBott vs LaunchDirectories: which submission service fits?](https://getbacklinkai.com/answers/linkping-vs-listingbott-vs-launchdirectories.md): Choose by what you need done: LinkPing is a workspace where you submit and track listings yourself using a checked directory library (410 public directories as of 2026-10-20), while done-for-you services submit on your behalf. We describe other services only in general terms; check their sites for current directory lists, prices and policies. - [Manual vs automated directory submission: cost and time?](https://getbacklinkai.com/answers/manual-vs-automated-directory-submission.md): Automation saves time on the 50 of 410 directories that are free with no account (2026-10-20), but it cannot replace human work on the 130 that require login or those with captchas. The median no-account directory form in LinkPing's library has 5 fields, so automation mainly removes retyping, not review. - [Link building agency vs DIY for an early-stage SaaS?](https://getbacklinkai.com/answers/link-building-agency-vs-diy.md): For an early-stage SaaS, do the free directory and launch-platform work yourself and consider an agency only once you need editorial links at scale. As of 2026-10-20, 165 of 223 directories with known pricing in LinkPing's library are free, so the first layer needs time, not budget. - [How much should a SaaS spend on backlinks in its first year?](https://getbacklinkai.com/answers/how-much-to-spend-on-backlinks.md): Spend time first and money later: free directory listings and launches cost nothing but effort, and budget belongs on content people want to link to. LinkPing cannot give a verified dollar figure; as of 2026-10-20, 165 of 223 known-price directories are free and 22 of 410 are paid-only. - [What is GEO and how is it different from SEO and AEO?](https://getbacklinkai.com/answers/what-is-geo-vs-seo-aeo.md): GEO (generative engine optimisation) is the practice of making your content easy for AI assistants to find, understand and cite, while SEO targets ranked links in search results and AEO targets direct answers such as featured snippets and voice replies. The three overlap heavily, and the shared base is a crawlable site, clear answers and mentions on trusted sources, such as the 410 directories LinkPing tracks (2026-10-20). - [Why do AI answers cite directories and listicles?](https://getbacklinkai.com/answers/why-ai-answers-cite-directories.md): Directories and listicles answer the exact question people ask AI assistants, "which tools exist for X", in a structured, comparable form that a model can summarise. LinkPing has not measured citation frequency, but its library, checked 2026-10-20, has 404 live directories across 9 types, which is the kind of structured source such answers draw on. - [How do I check if ChatGPT mentions my brand?](https://getbacklinkai.com/answers/how-to-check-chatgpt-mentions-brand.md): Run a fixed set of prompts that your buyers would use and record whether your brand is named, how it is described and which sources are cited. Repeat monthly in a clean session, because answers vary by wording, model version and whether the assistant used web search. - [Does being listed on G2 / Capterra / SaaSHub change AI recommendations?](https://getbacklinkai.com/answers/saashub-g2-capterra-ai-recommendations.md): Probably yes in part, since review sites are among the pages AI tools read for software questions, but LinkPing has not measured how much a listing changes recommendations. LinkPing tracks 31 live SaaS review sites as of 2026-10-20, 16 of the 16 with known pricing offering a free listing. - [What signals make an AI engine trust a new SaaS?](https://getbacklinkai.com/answers/signals-ai-trusts-new-saas.md): AI engines have not published their trust criteria, but the signals that plausibly matter are consistent facts across sources, independent third-party mentions, a clear and crawlable website, and real usage evidence such as reviews. LinkPing has not tested which of these move citations; as of 2026-10-20 it tracks 410 directories (53% verified) where consistent facts can be established. - [What share of "free" directories are actually free in 2026?](https://getbacklinkai.com/answers/free-directories-share-2026.md): 74% of directories with known pricing are free: 165 of 223 in LinkPing's library, checked 2026-10-20. A stricter "free with no account and no badge" is narrower, covering 45 directories. - [What's the median DR of AI tool directories vs launch platforms?](https://getbacklinkai.com/answers/median-dr-ai-directories-vs-launch-platforms.md): As of 2026-10-20, the median DR of AI tool directories in LinkPing's library is 36 (180 of 180 have a DR value), against 57 for launch platforms (51 of 51). Both figures use sizeable samples, but DR values are refreshed over time. - [How many directories died in the last 12 months?](https://getbacklinkai.com/answers/directories-died-last-12-months.md): As of 2026-10-20, LinkPing's probes found 6 of 410 tracked directories (1%) offline. LinkPing records current status, not the date a site closed, so it cannot yet say how many of these died within the last 12 months. - [Average review time per directory category?](https://getbacklinkai.com/answers/average-review-time-by-directory-category.md): LinkPing does not yet have enough tracked submissions to publish an average review time for any directory category, and we will not estimate one. As of 2026-10-20 the closest thing we can report is how many directories in each category are free with no account (50 of 410 overall), which tend to have lighter or no review. - [Which directory categories give the best DR-per-hour?](https://getbacklinkai.com/answers/best-directory-categories-dr-per-hour.md): LinkPing cannot yet rank categories by DR per hour because it has not measured the time each submission takes. As a proxy, the table shows, as of 2026-10-20, the median DR and median form size of the 50 free no-account directories with a DR value. ## Data - [LinkPing data: directory submission statistics and open dataset](https://getbacklinkai.com/data.md): First-hand data on 410 directory submission sites and launch platforms, checked by LinkPing. Monthly Directory Index, shut-down tracker and a CC BY 4.0 dataset (JSON, CSV). Snapshot 2026-10-20. - [Directory Index — 2026-10](https://getbacklinkai.com/data/directory-index-2026-10.md): Monthly state of directory submission sites from LinkPing's library: 410 sites, 74.0% (165 of 223) free where known, 86.7% (111 of 128) dofollow where known, median DR by category. Snapshot 2026-10-20. - [Dead and paid-only directories](https://getbacklinkai.com/data/dead-directories.md): Directory submission sites that have shut down (6) or only list paying products (22), from LinkPing's checks. Snapshot 2026-10-20. - [Directory dataset (JSON, CC BY 4.0)](https://getbacklinkai.com/data/directories.json): Every public directory record with price, account, badge, CAPTCHA and dofollow rules, probe status and verified date. - [Directory dataset (CSV, CC BY 4.0)](https://getbacklinkai.com/data/directories.csv): The same dataset as CSV; leading # lines carry the snapshot date and licence. ## Blog - [LinkPing blog](https://getbacklinkai.com/blog.md): Guides and first-hand data on directory submission, backlinks and AI search visibility. - [Is directory submission worth it in 2026? We checked 410 directories](https://getbacklinkai.com/blog/directory-submission-2026.md): Directory submission in 2026: of 410 directories LinkPing checked, 74% of those with a known price are free and 87% of known links are dofollow. - [GEO vs SEO vs AEO: where directory listings fit](https://getbacklinkai.com/blog/geo-vs-seo-vs-aeo.md): GEO vs SEO vs AEO explained: what each one optimises, what they share, and where directory and review-site listings help. Includes data from 410 directories. - [How to get your SaaS recommended by ChatGPT](https://getbacklinkai.com/blog/how-to-get-recommended-by-chatgpt.md): How to get your SaaS recommended by ChatGPT: make it crawlable, get indexed in Bing, add llms.txt, and list on review sites and directories. Data from 410 directories. - [Is backlink exchange safe? Google's rules and what to avoid](https://getbacklinkai.com/blog/is-backlink-exchange-safe.md): Is backlink exchange safe? Google's spam policy names excessive link exchanges as link spam. Here is what counts, what is low risk, and how LinkPing's community works. ## Optional - [Full content for LLMs](https://getbacklinkai.com/llms-full.txt): this index plus the Markdown of every page. - [Sitemap](https://getbacklinkai.com/sitemap.xml)